Revitalizing your car’s exterior can be surprisingly straightforward and impactful, especially when it comes to refreshing those often-faded plastic parts. From side mirror covers to bumper trims, painting these plastic components is an excellent DIY project to enhance your vehicle’s look and bring back that showroom shine, without the extensive work of a full car respray.
But where do you begin? How Do You Paint Plastic Car Parts effectively? What preparation is needed, and what are the best techniques to ensure a professional-looking finish? This guide provides all the essential information you need to successfully apply automotive paint to plastic car parts, transforming your car’s appearance with your own hands.
Which Plastic Car Parts Are Suitable for Painting?
The good news is that a wide range of exterior plastic trims and components on most vehicles are paintable. Keep in mind that the specific plastic parts can vary across different car makes and models, which might influence what you decide to paint.
Here are common plastic car parts that are typically suitable for painting:
- Trim pieces around windows, headlights, and taillights
- Door handles and side mirror housings
- Bumpers and bumper trim
- Wheel covers or hubcaps
- Spoilers and body kits
- Mud flaps or guards
Essential Items for Painting Plastic Car Parts
To achieve a professional and lasting paint job on your plastic car parts, gathering the right tools and materials is crucial. Here’s a complete list of what you’ll need:
- Sandpaper: A selection of different grits, from coarse to fine (e.g., 220, 320, 400, 600 grit), is necessary for progressively smoothing the plastic surface.
- Spray paint for plastic: Opt for high-quality automotive spray paint specifically formulated for plastic. These paints are designed for better adhesion and flexibility on plastic surfaces.
- Respirator or Mask: Safety first! Always use a respirator mask when working with spray paints and primers to avoid inhaling harmful fumes.
- Plastic Primer: A specialized primer for plastic is indispensable. It creates a bonding layer that allows the paint to adhere properly to the plastic, preventing peeling and ensuring durability.
- Masking Tape: High-quality masking tape, such as Perforated Trim Masking Tape for curves or Flat Orange Precision Masking Tape for straight edges, is essential to protect surrounding areas from overspray.
- Clear Coat Lacquer: A clear coat lacquer adds a protective layer and a glossy or matte finish to your newly painted plastic, enhancing its appearance and durability.
- Microfiber Cloths: Keep several microfiber cloths handy for cleaning surfaces, applying polish, and wiping away dust.
- Degreaser or Plastic Cleaner: A degreaser or specialized plastic cleaner is important for removing grease, wax, and contaminants from the plastic surface before sanding and painting.
- Tack Cloth: A tack cloth is useful for removing fine dust particles just before applying primer and paint, ensuring a flawless finish.
Step-by-Step Guide: Preparing Plastic Car Parts for Painting
Proper preparation is the cornerstone of a successful paint job on plastic car parts. The initial and often most effective step is to remove the plastic part from the car. Detaching the component usually provides easier access and allows for more thorough preparation and painting.
To remove plastic trims, carefully use a plastic trim removal tool or a thin, flat tool to gently pry between the plastic trim and the car body panel. Work slowly and cautiously to avoid damaging the underlying paintwork or breaking the plastic part itself.
If removing the part isn’t feasible, meticulous masking is essential. Masking off the adjacent car body panels is crucial to protect them from paint overspray and to achieve a clean, professional edge. For curved plastic parts, JTAPE Perforated Trim Masking Tape is highly recommended because its perforated design allows it to easily conform to curves and contours. For straight edges or gently curved parts, Lime Precision Masking Tape offers sharp, clean lines and excellent protection against overspray. When masking, double-check for any gaps where paint could seep through. Press down firmly on the tape edges to ensure a secure seal against the car panel.
Next comes sanding. The goal of sanding is to create a smooth surface and provide “tooth” for the primer and paint to adhere to. Start with a coarser grit sandpaper (e.g., 220 or 320 grit) to remove the glossy sheen from the plastic. Then, gradually move to finer grits (e.g., 400 and finally 600 grit) to refine the surface and eliminate sanding scratches. Sand in smooth, even strokes, and avoid pressing too hard, which can create uneven surfaces.
After sanding, thoroughly clean the plastic part. Use warm soapy water and a degreaser or plastic cleaner to remove all sanding dust, dirt, grease, and any other contaminants. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow the plastic to dry completely before proceeding to the next steps. For optimal results, just before priming, wipe down the plastic with a tack cloth to remove any remaining fine dust particles.
Step-by-Step Guide: Painting Plastic Car Parts
With the plastic parts properly prepped, you’re now ready to apply paint. Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to spray paint plastic car parts to achieve a fantastic, durable finish.
Step 1 – Applying Primer
Apply a thin, even coat of plastic primer to the prepared plastic part. Hold the spray can about 6-7 inches away from the surface and use smooth, consistent strokes. Always wear a respirator mask during this stage to protect yourself from primer fumes.
For optimal adhesion and coverage, apply multiple thin coats of primer rather than one thick coat. Typically, 2-3 light coats are sufficient. Allow each coat to dry for about 10-15 minutes between applications, or as per the primer manufacturer’s instructions. This “flash time” allows the solvents to evaporate and prevents runs or drips.
Step 2 – Applying Color Paint
When applying your chosen automotive spray paint, follow the same technique as with the primer. Apply thin, even coats, holding the can approximately 6-7 inches from the plastic surface. Overlap each spray pass slightly to ensure uniform coverage.
Depending on the color change and the paint’s opacity, you might need to apply several coats to achieve full, even color. For significant color changes, like painting black plastic white, more coats will likely be necessary. Allow each coat of paint to dry for about 15-20 minutes between applications. Refer to the paint manufacturer’s instructions for specific drying times.
Step 3 – Applying Clear Coat Lacquer
To protect the color coat and add shine (or a matte finish, depending on the lacquer), apply clear coat lacquer. Apply 2-3 coats of clear coat, allowing about 15-20 minutes of drying time between each coat. Ensure even coverage for a uniform finish.
Once you are satisfied with the lacquer application, allow the painted plastic part to dry and cure completely. This can take several hours, or ideally overnight, in a dust-free environment. Full curing time can vary based on temperature and humidity, so consult the paint and lacquer product guidelines.
Step 4 – Polishing and Finishing
The final touch is polishing. Once the clear coat is fully cured, use a clean microfiber cloth and a plastic-safe polish to gently buff the painted plastic part. This polishing step will enhance the shine, remove any minor imperfections, and leave you with a flawlessly smooth, professionally painted surface.
If you removed the plastic part for painting, carefully reattach it to your car. If you masked off the area, carefully remove the masking tape, pulling it away at a 45-degree angle to prevent pulling up the new paint.
Can You Powder Coat Plastic Car Parts?
While powder coating is a durable finish often used for metal parts like alloy wheels, powder coating plastic car parts requires a specialized approach. Standard powder coating processes involve high temperatures that can damage or warp most plastics. However, UV-cured powder coating is an alternative method. This process uses UV light instead of high heat to cure the powder coating, making it suitable for certain types of plastics. UV-cured powder coating can provide a very durable and long-lasting finish for plastic components, but it typically requires specialized equipment and is often performed by professionals.
We hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle painting your plastic car parts. For more expert advice and a wide range of automotive painting and masking products, explore our JTAPE blog and product range.
